887 



Metachroma sp. — A correspoudeut at Brightou, Tex., sent us, May 28 

 of tbe present year, specimens of what is apparently an uudescribed 

 species allied to M. suturale Lee, with the statement that this insect 

 has beeu playing havoc with this year's cuttings of the vine. During 

 the heat of the day the beetles remained concealed in the curl of a leaf 

 or under any convenient bit of rubbish near the base of the stem and 

 toward evening and in the early morning come forth to feed. 



Catorama sp. — During the year 1892 Mr. F. G. Schaupp sent us from 

 Shovel Mount, Tex., specimens of an evidently undescribed species of 

 Catorama, taken in May, in all its stages, from grape canes. 



Artipus fioridanus Horn, better known as a depredator on orange 

 and other citrus trees, was received November 23, 1889, from Mr. J. M. 

 Lever, of Waldo, Alachua County, Fla., with the accomi^auying infor- 

 mation that it was doing much damage to grape leaves. 



Ampelorjliipter crenaius Lee. and Madams iindulatus Say, near rela- 

 tives of the grape-cane gall curculio, Mr. Schwarz informs me, occur 

 both on grape and on Ampelopsis. 



Species which are known to affect Am^jelopsis and other genera of 

 the vine family will be found in time on the grape. Of such are 

 Am2}elogli/j)ter ater Lee. 



THE CURRANT STEM-GIRDLER. 



(FhyUocctis flaviventris Fitch.) 

 By C. L. Marlatt. 



The publication of an illustrated account of this insect in Insect 

 Life (vol. vi, pp. 290-301) led to the recognition of damage due to it 

 by ]Mr. Robert B. Treat, of Centerville, E. I., and the interest thus 

 aroused has enabled me, with Mr. Treat's assistance, to complete the 

 details of the life history of this insect which were hitherto lacking. 

 Mr. Treat said of it in his letter of May 30, 1894, that he had noticed 

 its work on currant bushes during the last two seasons, but had never 

 before observed any indications of its presence in Xew England. At 

 the date mentioned the adult insects Avere rather abundant among his 

 currants, as evidenced by the frequency of the severing of the termi- 

 nals, and he was good enough to collect a large series of these and 

 transmit them to this office. One of them, showing the characteristic 

 appearance of the severed twig, is illustrated at Fig. 42. The work 

 had been recently done, as the tips nearly severed— completely so in two 

 cases — were merely withered. The cutting to sever the tip extended 

 nearly completely round the twig, and was from one to two inches below 

 the tip. From the nature of the marks the work was evidently done 

 Avith the mandibles. 



The egg was found to be inserted in the green, succulent growth, from 

 one-eighth to three fourths of an inch below the cut, the point of inser- 

 tion of the ovipositor being indicated exteriorly by a very minute brown- 

 ish cut or mark in the bark (Fig. 42 a). By dissection the transparent, 



